Electrical connecter



Aug. 2, 1938. A. E. CALDWELL ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Fil ed Feb. 28, 1936Patented Au:- g I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL ooNNEc'rEaAlbert E. Caldwell, Lockport, 111., asslgnor to George D. Ladd,Lockport, Ill.

- Application February 28, 1936, Serial No. 66,260

' 3 Claims. (01. 173-322) My invention relates to electrical terminalsand Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing a particularly toplug connecters such as are used terminal pin seated in the socket.

for connecting conductor cords to electrical ap- Referring to thedrawing, the connecter of my pliances. invention includes a suitablebody or grip portion Devices this type .-usually comprise a body Icomprising two complementary members 2 portion of insulating materialhaving mounted which may be of molded insulated material and therein aplurality of socket type contacts. The which may be permanently securedtogether by a body portion ordinarily consists of two complerivet 3 orby any other suitable means. Formed mentary half sectionsfand theconductors or elecin the inner faces of the members 2, are recesses 4 mtrical cord with which the connecter is used are f rming seats f r a pof improved Contact connected to the contacts within the body bysuitments 5, which are adapted to be connected to able screws or thelike. the conductor wires 6 oi the usual electrical cord 1.

Under the requirements of the insurance un- In the form shown, each ofthe contact elederwriters for connecters of the above described ments 5comp a socket member 8 r ve e type, an approved plug must be capable ofsusor otherwise rigidly secured to an offset arm 9 15 taining a weightof twenty pounds applied across of a tang Ill. The socket member 8 maybe made the contacts and the associated cord, for a period of a singleflat strip of metal which is doubled of five minutes, without permittingseparation of over the arm 9 to which it is riveted so as to the cordand the contacts, when. the screws for form a p of substantiallyParallel Spaced secfastening the cord conductors to the contacts tionsII and H. the free ends of which are 20 .have been backed oflf one-haltturn. The princivexed outwardly to form.the socket for one of pal objectof the present invention is to provide the terminal pin l3 of theappliance (not s ow a connecter capable oi passing this test. inconnection with which the connecter is used. Another object of myinvention is to provide Formed on the section i I adjacent the convexeda contact structure for connecters of this type P is a lug which is bentaround the 25 which shall be so arranged that electrical con- Jaoentedge of the section I2 so as to serve as a nection to the cordconductors can be made withhin e. Th mem r 8 r mad f r en m l outopening or taking apart the body member. and their sections normallyassume the positions A further object of my invention is to provide anshown in Figs. 3 and 6. When the terminal P improved contact structureof this type, which are inserted, these sections II and I! are spreadshall include means for relieving the electrical apart o Opened t0 thePosition Shown in '7- connection between the cord conductors and theWith this imp e form 0f socket be contact elements of the connecter fromstress there is 110 necessity for a y ble c ect on beduring the use ofthe connecter. tween the body sections 2 and therefore the body Anillustrative embodiment of this invention is y be Permanently sealed, asy the rivet 3. shown in the accompanying drawing, where1n;. The outerends of the contact tangs iii are Fig. 1 is an axial section, partly inelevation, 0! Provided with Screws 0 attachment 1 the a connecter plugto which thi invention is conductor wires 6. In order to relieve theseplied, wires-and screws from stress during use, the con- 40 Fig, 21 a sctio partly in elevation taken on tact elements are clamped to the cord1 by a pair 40 t line 1.4 of Fig.1 of complementary serrated Jaws i6which are Fla 3 is an enlarged, perspective View of the formed on thetangs l0 adjacent the screws.

contact elements and cord connecting means These jaws are adapted toembrace the 70rd 'forming a part of the connecter illustrated i are heldm effective engagement with the cord by 5 Figs 1 and 2 a retaining ringll of insulating material which v is secured against accidentaldisplacement by a Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the cord clampingportion of the contact elements. pair of outwardly projecting lugs '8formed on the jaws. In attaching the connecter to the Fig. 5 is atransverse section taken on the line cord. the jaw n arepressediinwardly y a t- 5 01' illustrating the a t o the cord able tooland the retaining ring is then slipped clamping means forming a part ofthe contact qver th lugs I; structure. In oi-derto facilitate theattachment of the i 6 is a transverse section of e lthe o cord to thecontact elements, the latter are of tact sockets, theview being taken onthe line H suilieient length to position the screws l5 and of Fig. 3.laws It wholly outside of the body member. 55

Mia-a.

Shoulders I! on the tanks ll engage the end of the body I,

The outwardly projecting portions of the con tact elements are protectedby an insulating sleeve 20 whichhas an annular recess 2| formed in itsinner wall for receiving an annular peripheral flange 22 formed on thebody member.

The method of assembly of this improved connecter is believed to beobvious from the foregoing description. With this improved constructionany stress .transmitted by the cord will be borne by the jaws l6 andwill not impair the electrical -connection between the screws l5 and theconductor wires.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been hereinshown and described,

it will be understood that details of the con- ;struction shown maybealtered without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined bythe following claims:--

I claim:

1. An electricalconnecter for use in connec tion with a multi-conductorcord having an outer insulating covering common to said conductors,

said connecter comprising a body, insulatingly spaced contacts in saidbody, the number of contacts corresponding to the number of saidconductors and each of said conductors being electrically connected toone of said contacts. a

2. An electrical connecter for use in connectionwith-a multi-conductorcord having an cu insulating covering common to said conductors, saidconnecter comprising a body, in sulatingly spaced contacts in said body,the number of contacts corresponding to the number of said conductorsand each of said conductors being electrically connected to one of saidcontacts, a jaw carried by each of said contacts, said jaws beingarranged to grip the insulating covering of said cord in spaced apartrelation around the surface of said covering, and a ring of insulatingmaterial disposed around said insulating covering, said ring beingaxially slidable'over the said jaws to clampingly retain the jaws ingripp n engagement with said cov ering and mechanically support thecontacts in relation to said cord.

3. An electrical connecter for usein connection with a multi-condu'ctorcord having an outer insulating covering common to said conductors,v

said connecter comprising a body, insulatingiy spaced contacts in saidbody, the number of contacts corresponding to the number of saidconductors and each of said conductors being electrically connected toone of said contacts, a jaw carried by each of said contacts,'said jawsbeing arranged to grip the insulating covering of ALBERT ri. CALDWELL.

